Titan softball team earns 13-0 shutout over Watertown, drops pair of tight match-ups

The Tea Area High School softball team delivered a dominant performance on Tuesday, April 21, shutting out Watertown 13-0 in a game shortened to five innings by the run rule.

The Titans set the tone early behind a strong showing from pitcher Brynn Kline, who struck out multiple batters and kept Watertown off the scoreboard throughout the game. 

Tea Area broke the game open in the bottom of the second inning. Allie Wallum ignited the offense with a triple, followed by another triple from Preslie Benning to drive in the game’s first run. The Titans continued to apply pressure, stringing together hits from Anna Somsen, Abby Boom, and Ava Opland, along with capitalizing on Watertown errors to build a 5-0 lead.

The Titans added five more runs in the third inning, highlighted by RBI contributions from Somsen, Boom, and Opland. Tea Area’s aggressive base running and ability to take advantage of defensive miscues proved to be key, extending the lead to 10-0.

In the fourth, Tea Area pushed the lead to 13-0. Kaylyn Hall and Morgan Sehr reached base, and Pearl Weiland and Abby Boom each drove in runs as the Titans continued to capitalize on Watertown errors.

Kline and the defense closed the door in the fifth inning, securing the shutout and ending the game early via the run rule.

However, the Titans were unable to carry that momentum into the rest of the week.

On Thursday, April 23, Tea Area fell in a heartbreaking 10-9 loss to Brookings in extra innings. After trailing early, the Titans mounted a comeback, highlighted by a two-run home run from Kaylyn Hall and another two-run blast from Anna Somsen in the fifth inning to take an 8-5 lead.

Brookings responded late, tying the game at 8-8 in the seventh inning to force extras. Tea Area briefly regained the lead in the eighth when Pearl Weiland scored, but Brookings answered again to even the score at 9-9. In the ninth inning, Brookings secured the win with a sacrifice fly.

Hall and Kline handled pitching duties. Kline recorded ten strike-outs and Hall had two. 

The Titans wrapped up the week on Friday, April 24, dropping an 8-6 contest to Sioux Falls Roosevelt. After falling behind 3-0, Tea Area battled back with a three-run fourth inning, fueled by RBI hits from Anna Somsen and Madison Dragt.

Roosevelt regained control with runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Titans continued to fight. Tea Area plated two runs in the seventh, including a sacrifice fly from Abby Boom, but the rally came up short.

Ahryana Drake and Kline were in the pitcher’s circle with Drake recording three strikeouts and Kline one. 

Tea Area will look to bounce back as they travel to Harrisburg on Friday, May 1, before facing Sioux Falls Jefferson on Saturday, May 2.